Battery-powered air handling system for subsurface aeration

ABSTRACT

The invention is a battery powered source for an air handling system that provides subsurface aeration services when an available power source provides insufficient power. The system comprises a subsurface aeration duct, a motor, an air pump, a storage battery, a battery charger, and a control circuit responsive to commands. The control circuit is operatively coupled to the storage battery to control a connection of the storage battery to provide power to the motor. In response to a command, the control circuit connects the storage battery to provide power to the motor, and the storage battery provides sufficient power to operate the motor and air pump satisfactorily for operation of an air handling system used for subsurface aeration. The system further comprises a reversing valve to provide air under pressure with air flow in a first direction, and partial vacuum with air flow in a second direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 60/447,169, filed Feb. 12, 2003, nowabandoned, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/447,218,filed Feb. 12, 2003, now abandoned, and U.S. nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 10/777,466, filed Feb. 12, 2004, now abandoned,each of which applications is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. This application is related to an application entitled “GolfCourse Environmental Management System,” which application is beingfiled on even date herewith, and which is subject to assignment to thesame assignee of the present application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to subsurface aeration systems in general andparticularly to a battery-powered subsurface aeration system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In prior art systems for treating soil and turf by blowing and/orvacuuming through a duct network located underneath the turf, alow-pressure high-volume fan is typically used to move air into the soilprofile or remove moisture from the soil profile. U.S. Pat. Nos.5,433,759; 5,507,595; 5,542,208; 5,617,670; 5,596,836; and 5,636,473,the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety, show different variations on equipment used for thispurpose. Since a non-reversing fan always rotates in the same direction,changing the system from a blowing function to a vacuuming functionrequires disconnecting the duct network from the blowing outlet of thefan unit and connecting it to the vacuum inlet of the unit. In somevariations, a 4-way valve is used to avoid the hassles involved withselectively connecting and disconnecting the duct network from thevarious ports of the fan unit. Manual operations limit the degree towhich the process can be automated. In addition, considerable judgmentis involved in knowing when to blow air into the duct network and whento remove air from the duct network by applying a partial vacuum.Blowing air into the duct network when there is too much moisture in thesoil profile can severely damage parts of the turf.

More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,638, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, disclosed additionalfeatures of an air handling system that includes an air handling deviceconnectable to a duct network that is underneath a field having grassgrowing in it, at least one sensor disposed to measure a variableassociated with the field, and a control unit connected to the airhandling device to control operating parameters of the air handlingdevice responsive to an output from the sensor. A heat exchanger isoptionally part of the system. The variables associated with the fieldinclude temperature and moisture. The operating parameters of the airhandling device include direction of the air flow, temperature of theair directed into the duct network, and the time of operation of theunit. The system optionally includes programmable control logic so thatthe sensor output automatically controls the operating parameters of thesystem. A computer with display is used to program the control logic,which can be done remotely over a modem or the internet. The sensoroutput can be viewed on the display to allow a user to manually controlthe operating parameters if desired.

What is lacking are systems that can be operated where power supplieshave insufficient capacity, and systems that can handle a diversity ofenvironmental parameters over disparate areas of interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention relates to a battery powered source for anair handling system used for subsurface aeration. The battery poweredsource comprises an air pump configured to provide at least one of airunder pressure and a partial vacuum; a motor mechanically connected tothe air pump; a storage battery for providing power to the motor; abattery charger for charging the storage battery, the battery chargerobtaining power from a power source, the power source when operatingalone having insufficient capacity to drive a motor of suitable size tooperate the air pump satisfactorily; and a control circuit responsive tocommands, the control circuit operatively coupled to the storage batteryto control a connection of the storage battery to provide power to themotor. In response to a command, the control circuit connects thestorage battery to provide power to the motor, and the storage batteryprovides sufficient power to operate the air pump satisfactorily foroperation of an air handling system used for subsurface aeration.

In one embodiment, the battery powered source further comprises areversing mechanism in fluid communication with the air pump, thereversing mechanism configured to cause air to flow in a first flowdirection to provide air under pressure, and configured to cause air toflow in a second flow direction to provide a partial vacuum.

In one embodiment, the control circuit is operatively coupled to thestorage battery and to the battery charger to control a connection of atleast one of the storage battery and the battery charger to providepower to the motor. In one embodiment, the storage battery is a deepdischarge battery. In one embodiment, the motor is a DC motor. In oneembodiment, the control circuit is operatively coupled to the storagebattery and to the battery charger to connect the storage battery andthe battery charger to provide power to the DC motor.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises an inverter configuredto be connected to the storage battery, and the motor is an AC motor. Inone embodiment, the control circuit is operatively coupled to thestorage battery to connect the storage battery to the inverter toprovide power to the AC motor. In one embodiment, the control circuitconnects the storage battery to the inverter, and connects the inverterand the power source to provide power to the AC motor.

In a further aspect, the invention features an air handling system usedfor subsurface aeration. The air handling system comprises a subsurfaceaeration conduit for providing to a designated area at least one of airunder pressure and a partial vacuum; an air pump in fluid communicationwith the subsurface aeration conduit, the air pump configured to provideat least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum; a motormechanically connected to the air pump; a storage battery for providingpower to the motor; a battery charger for charging the storage battery,the battery charger obtaining power from a power source, the powersource when operating alone having insufficient capacity to drive amotor of suitable size to operate the air pump satisfactorily; and acontrol circuit responsive to commands, the control circuit operativelycoupled to the storage battery to control a connection of the storagebattery to provide power to the motor. In response to a command, thecontrol circuit connects the storage battery to provide power to themotor, and the storage battery provides sufficient power to operate theair pump satisfactorily for operation of the air handling system toprovide at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum to thearea of interest.

In one embodiment, the air handling system further comprises a reversingmechanism in fluid communication with the air pump and with thesubsurface aeration conduit, the reversing mechanism configured to causeair to flow in a first flow direction to provide air under pressure, andconfigured to cause air to flow in a second flow direction to provide apartial vacuum. In one embodiment, the control circuit is operativelycoupled to the storage battery and to the battery charger to control aconnection of at least one of the storage battery and the batterycharger to provide power to the motor. In one embodiment, the storagebattery is a deep discharge battery. In one embodiment, the motor is aDC motor. In one embodiment, the control circuit is operatively coupledto the storage battery and to the battery charger to connect the storagebattery and the battery charger to provide power to the DC motor.

In one embodiment, the air handling system further comprises an inverterconfigured to be connected to the storage battery, and the motor is anAC motor. In one embodiment, the control circuit connects the storagebattery to the inverter, and connects the inverter to provide power tothe AC motor. In one embodiment, the control circuit connects thestorage battery to the inverter, and connects the inverter and the powersource to provide power to the AC motor.

In one embodiment, the area of interest is an area situated within agolf course. In one embodiment, the area situated within a golf coursecomprises at least a portion of a selected one of a golf course green, afairway, a tee box, a bunker, a walkway, a gallery viewing area, adriving range, a putting green, and a practice area.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method of providingsubsurface aeration services to an area of interest. The methodcomprises the steps of providing a subsurface aeration system that isconfigured to supply to a designated area at least one of air underpressure and a partial vacuum, and issuing a command whereby the controlcircuit connects the storage battery to provide power to the motor, andthe storage battery provides sufficient power to operate the air pumpsatisfactorily to provide at least one of air under pressure and apartial vacuum to the area of interest. The subsurface aeration systemcomprises a subsurface aeration conduit for providing to a designatedarea at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum; an airpump in fluid communication with the subsurface aeration conduit, theair pump configured to provide at least one of air under pressure and apartial vacuum; a motor mechanically connected to the air pump; astorage battery for providing power to the motor; a battery charger forcharging the storage battery, the battery charger obtaining power from apower source, the power source when operating alone having insufficientcapacity to drive a motor of suitable size to operate the air pumpsatisfactorily; and a control circuit responsive to commands, thecontrol circuit operatively coupled to the storage battery to control aconnection of the storage battery to provide power to the motor.

In one embodiment, the area of interest is an area situated within agolf course. In one embodiment, the area situated within a golf coursecomprises a selected one of a golf course green, a fairway, a tee, awalkway, a gallery viewing area, a driving range, a putting green, and apractice area.

In one embodiment, the step of issuing a command is repeated so thatduring a first time interval air under pressure is provided to the areaof interest and during a second time interval distinct from the firsttime interval a partial vacuum is provided to the area of interest.

In one embodiment, the subsurface aeration system further comprises areversing mechanism in fluid communication with the air pump and withthe subsurface aeration conduit, whereby, in response to a command, thereversing mechanism causes air to flow in a selected one of a first flowdirection to provide air under pressure and a second flow direction toprovide a partial vacuum.

In one embodiment, the control circuit controls a connection of at leastone of the storage battery and the battery charger to provide power tothe motor. In one embodiment, the storage battery is a deep dischargebattery. In one embodiment, the motor is a DC motor. In one embodiment,the control circuit connects both the storage battery and the batterycharger to provide power to the DC motor. In one embodiment, thesubsurface aeration system further comprises an inverter configured tobe connected to the storage battery, and the motor is an AC motorconfigured to be connected to the inverter.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step wherein thecontrol circuit connects the storage battery to the inverter. In oneembodiment, the step of the control circuit connecting the storagebattery to the inverter comprises connecting the inverter to providepower to the AC motor. In one embodiment, the method further comprisesthe step wherein the control circuit connects both the inverter and theAC power source to provide power to the AC motor.

In one embodiment, the power source is a selected one of an AC powersource, a solar cell array, a generator driven by an engine, a windturbine, and a fuel cell. In one embodiment, the engine is an enginethat uses a selected one of gasoline, diesel fuel, compressed gas, andnatural gas as fuel.

The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages ofthe invention will become more apparent from the following descriptionand from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the invention can be better understood withreference to the drawings described below, and the claims. The drawingsare not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placedupon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, likenumerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views.

FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram of a storage battery systemembodying principles of the invention;

FIG. 1A is a high level block diagram illustrating an embodiment of abattery, a controller, a motor, and a blower, according to principles ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a high level block diagram of a second storage battery systemembodying principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a graph of the observed values for electric current and forback pressure as a function of air flow delivered, according toprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a graph of the calculated results for electric power consumed,power transmitted to drive the flowing air, and the efficiency of thefan as a function of air flow delivered, according to principles of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a test circuit for a DC motordriven by a 48 volt battery, according to principles of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a motor-blower assembly useful inpracticing the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan diagram of a motor-blower, a battery and a conduitsituated with a chamber, according to principles of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan diagram that shows an arrangement of componentsemployed in testing the noise level generated during the operation of asystem built according to the principles of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a plurality of electromechanical subsystemseach subsystem dedicated to a specific area of a golf course, andcommunicating with a programmable master control module, according toprinciples of the invention;

FIGS. 10–13 are drawings depicting exemplary embodiments of a localcontrol module with different features, according to principles of theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a drawing showing an exemplary embodiment of a user display,according to principles of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an exemplary programmable master control module,showing various control signal paths, according to principles of theinvention;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of an illustrative communication configurationincluding a local control module and a programmable master controlmodule, and showing various environmental sensor signal paths, accordingto principles of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of communicationpaths including remote access via the Internet, according to principlesof the invention and

FIG. 18 is an enumeration of some of the components, communication andcontrol channels, and logic structure of one or more embodiments of thegolf course environmental management system, according to principles ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the systems according to principles of the inventionare useful in operating subsurface aeration systems in locations wherethere is insufficient power provided by conventional grid-connectedpower supplies. In another embodiment, the systems according toprinciples of the invention are useful in managing the provision of suchaeration services to a plurality of locations, for example areas havingdifferent requirements from one another.

As will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow, an example thatillustrates the above advantages and solutions in the provision ofsubsurface aeration and associated services is discussed with referenceto a golf course that has a plurality of greens or other areas ofinterest having different requirements. Different areas on a golf coursecan have differences in many features, such as in topography, inelevation, in exposure to the sun, and in other features such as watertable level, or being subject to wind. For example, a first green issurrounded by a water hazard (for example, a green situated on an islandsurrounded by water and accessible by a footbridge or golf cart path); asecond green is surrounded by sand traps; a third green is exposed tofull sun for much or all of a day; and a fourth green is surrounded bytrees that shade the green from direct sunlight for a considerable partof the day. Different greens may have different soil conditions and/ordifferent elevations, some may be sloped or terraced; and some may besubject to other unique conditions, such as prevailing winds, orexposure to salt water or salt spray (for example a course situated atthe ocean). Some greens or other areas of interest may be situated inareas where the power source that is available (such as a 110 Volt ACpower line of modest capacity) is not sufficient to directly supply theelectricity needed to operate the electromechanical systems that areneeded.

A benefit that the systems of the invention provide include the abilityto provide subsurface aeration services even when a power source, suchas an AC power line, that provides only insufficient capacity ispresent. Other benefits that the systems of the invention provideinclude the ability to manage the plurality of areas of interest from acentral location, for example a club house; to automate the managementfunctions; to allow monitoring of conditions at an area of interest orthe status of an electromechanical system associated with an area ofinterest; to allow a user of the systems to assert local control when atthe area of interest, as necessary; and to allow a user situated at anoff-site location to access the systems, review the status, makedeterminations as to the appropriate actions to be taken, and as needed,institute and/or monitor control actions.

As can be seen in connection with prior art systems, one mobile pump canbe utilized in the present system to service a number of greens on agolf course, a sports field and/or a leach field. Additionally, existinggreens having in place drain systems can be easily retrofitted foralmost immediate use in the present air treatment system. The valvesservicing the system can be stationed in access pits some distance fromthe treatment site, and thus will not detract from the field of play.

Battery Powered Air Handling System

As mention hereinabove, in some situations, an area of interest thatrequires treatment with a subsurface aeration system according to theinvention does not have a suitable power source available in itsimmediate vicinity. Alternating current (AC) motors that are suitablefor operating a typical subsurface aeration system are often of a sizein the 3 to 5 horsepower range, which require about 30 to 45 amps at 110volts for their operation. However, the typical utility 110 volt powerline used for irrigation satellites or for general purposes such aslighting, provides only about 10–15 amps, which is typicallyinsufficient for operating subsurface aeration systems. As an example,on an older golf course, or in areas that are sufficiently remote from ahigh voltage power source, such as a 220 (or higher) volt supply, it iscommonly the case that the available 110 volt AC power source whenoperating alone has insufficient capacity to drive a motor of suitablesize to operate the air pump satisfactorily for the proper operation ofthe subsurface aeration system. According to principles of theinvention, the subsurface aeration system in some embodiments is poweredby a storage battery having sufficient capacity (e.g., high enoughamp-hour rating and high enough discharge rate) to operate a DC motorthat runs the air pump or blower of the system satisfactorily. In apreferred embodiment, the storage battery is a deep discharge battery.Those of ordinary skill will recognize that individual storage batterieshaving sufficient voltage and current capacity, as well as series andparallel combinations of storage batteries, can be used in practicingthe invention. For example, such as 6 volt, 12 volt batteries (e.g.,automotive batteries), 24 volt batteries (e.g., marine batteries), andother batteries of any convenient voltage can be employed in the systemsaccording to principles of the invention. As an example, if a 48 voltsystem is desired, it is possible to connect eight (8) batteries of the6 volt type in series, or one could use a different arrangement, such as4 batteries of the 12 volt type in series. In one embodiment, eight 6volt deep cycle batteries, such as U.S. Battery model 2200, availablefrom U.S. Battery Manufacturing Co., 1895 Tobacco Road, Augusta, Ga.30906, are used to provide a 48 volt compound storage battery. As iswell understood by application of Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws,to increase the current capacity, if needed, one could build a compoundbattery system by connecting two or more “strings” of series-connectedbatteries in parallel, wherein each series “string” comprises batterieshaving a total voltage value that is substantially equal to every other“string” in the compound battery system. In view of the forthcomingchange of automotive battery technology to batteries operating in therange of 36–42 volts, one can expect that batteries operating at thosevoltages will be come more economical, and can be foreseen as beingapplicable to the inventions described herein. In another preferredembodiment, the storage battery (or a plurality of storage batteries)provides a working voltage of 48 volts.

FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram of a system employing a storagebattery. In FIG. 1, a DC motor 110 is mechanically connected to a bloweror air pump 19 by a shaft 112, which can include a transmission and/orclutch mechanism as is well known in the motor/blower arts. In someembodiments, the motor 110 is a Briggs and Stratton Etek™ permanentmagnet Electric Motor System 48 volt motor. Other DC motors can be usedin other embodiments. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram 500 showing a testcircuit for a DC motor 510 driven by a 48 volt battery 520. A rheostat530 is connected between the battery 510 and the motor 520 so that aresistance can be introduced at start up, and removed as the motorbegins to operate. The rheostat 530 comprises a variable resistorconfigured to handle a peak current of some tens to approximately 150amps.

The DC motor comprises power terminals 114, 116 for operating the DCmotor 110 when suitable DC voltage and current are applied thereto. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a storage battery 120 is provided forproviding DC power at the required current and voltage needed by themotor 110. In some embodiments, the storage battery 120 is a bank ofbatteries interconnected to supply a desired working voltage and asuitable current, such as a series-connected set of eight batteries,each battery being a six volt deep discharge lead acid battery, therebyproviding a current of 45 to 60 amps at 48 volts nominal workingvoltage. In one embodiment, such a battery bank provides about 30minutes of operating time in a period of about 210 minutes, or a dutycycle of about 15%. In some embodiments, the deep discharge batteriesare discharged to only an extent of 30 to 40 percent of their workingcapacities, both to prolong their operating life, and to keep rechargetime to acceptable values. The storage battery comprises terminals 124and 126 that can be connected to motor terminals 114 and 116,respectively. In FIG. 1, the connection of terminal 124 and terminal 114is shown as being accomplished by a single pole switch 154 which can beopened, disconnecting the storage battery from the motor 110, and whichswitch 154 can be closed, thereby connecting the storage battery 120 tothe motor 110. For simplicity, the second connection between terminal126 of the storage battery 120 and terminal 116 of the motor is shownwithout an intervening switch; those of ordinary skill in the electricalarts will understand that switch 154 could be replaced with a two poleswitch that connects or disconnects, depending on its state, both of theconnections between the storage battery 120 and the motor 110.

The battery 120 requires recharging, for example when a sufficientlylong period of operation of the motor 110 and blower 19 has elapsed.Accordingly, the system of FIG. 1 further comprises a source of AC power140, such as the above-mentioned 110 volt AC power source when operatingalone has insufficient capacity to drive a motor of suitable size tooperate the air pump 19 satisfactorily. In other embodiments, othersources of electrical power can be used in place of the source of ACpower 140. Examples of other sources of electrical power include a solarcell array, a generator driven by an engine (such as engines that usegasoline, diesel, compressed gas, or natural gas as fuel), a windturbine, and a fuel cell. The AC power source 140 is electricallyconnected to an AC-to-DC converter 130, such as a full- or half-waverectifier circuit, with or without filtering. The preferred AC-to-DCconverter 130 is a high efficiency full-wave rectifier with filtering.The terminals 134 and 136 of the AC-to-DC converter (or battery charger)130 connect electrically with the corresponding terminal 124 and 126 ofthe storage battery 120. The AC power source 140 and the AC-to-DCconverter 130 when operative are configured to fully charge storagebattery 120 to its rated capacity over a reasonable period of time, suchas a period of tens of minutes to hours. In some embodiments, thebattery charger comprises a transformer. In some embodiments, thetransformer is part of the AC-to-DC converter 130. In some embodiments,the battery charger operates at an input voltage of 110 volts AC anddraws 10 to 15 amps, while providing an output of 48 to 60 volts DC at18 to 20 amps.

In FIG. 1, the connection of terminal 124 and terminal 134 is shown asbeing accomplished by a single pole switch 156 which can be opened,disconnecting the storage battery 110 from the AC-to-DC converter 130,and which switch 156 can be closed, thereby connecting the storagebattery 120 to the AC-to-DC converter 130. For simplicity, the secondconnection between terminal 126 of the storage battery 120 and terminal136 of the AC-to-DC converter 130 is shown without an interveningswitch; those of ordinary skill in the electrical arts will understandthat switch 156 could be replaced with a two pole switch that connectsor disconnects, depending on its state, both of the connections betweenthe storage battery 30 and the AC-to-DC converter 130. In oneembodiment, the common connection of terminals 116, 126 and 136 isdefined as ground 138. Alternatively, the voltage at the commonconnection of terminals 116, 126 and 136 can be shifted to anyconvenient value of voltage, using well-known circuitry.

FIG. 1 further indicates the presence of a control circuit 150 that isresponsive to commands. The commands are communicated to the controlcircuit 150 over a communication line 160, which is at leastuni-directional, and in some embodiments is bi-directional. The controlcircuit 150 is operatively coupled via bi-directional control and dataline 151 to the storage battery 120 to control a connection of thestorage battery 120 to provide power to the motor 110, for example bycontrolling the state of switch 154. The control circuit 150 in someembodiments receives information transmitted on bi-directional controland data line 151 about the condition or state of the storage battery120 from local sensors, such as current and voltage sensors. In otherembodiments, the current and voltage sensors include local logiccapability, which can communicate with the control circuit 150 to informit of a condition requiring attention, or the local logic capability canbe configured to take corrective or remedial action as necessary. Thecontrol circuit 150 is also operatively coupled via bi-directionalcontrol and data line 152 to the battery charger 130 to control aconnection of the storage battery 120 to the battery charger 130, forexample by controlling the state of switch 156. In some embodiments, thebattery charger 130 communicates a status or condition to the controlcircuit 150 using the bi-directional control and data line 152. In someembodiments, the battery charger 130 comprises local logical capability,which can communicate with the control circuit 150 to inform it of acondition requiring attention, or the local logic capability can beconfigured to take corrective or remedial action as necessary. In someembodiments, the control circuit 150 is also operatively coupled to thecombination of AC power source 140 and AC-to-DC converter 130 bybi-directional control and data line 153, whereby the control circuit150 can turn the combination of AC power source 140 and AC-to-DCconverter 130 on and off as may be convenient or necessary, and data canbe sent from the combination of AC power source 140 and AC-to-DCconverter 130 to the control circuit 150 as necessary. As will beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in the electronic control arts,the system in some embodiments includes feedback from the controlledcomponents (e.g., storage battery 120, battery charger 130, motor 110)that provides the control circuit 150 data or information which areuseful in performing control actions. In other embodiments, there isadditional control circuitry and logic at the component beingcontrolled, which control circuitry and logic also has the capacity toperform control functions.

In one mode of operation (which we shall term “mode one”), the storagebattery 120 alone is used to provide power to the motor 110. In a secondmode of operation (which we shall term “mode two”), the storage battery120 and the combination of the AC power source 140 and AC-to-DCconverter 130 are both connected to the motor 110 to provide powerthereto. In the second mode, the combination of AC power source 140 andAC-to-DC converter 130 can be understood to provide power thatsupplements the power being provided by the storage battery 120, therebyreducing the discharge rate that the storage battery 120 experiences,assuming that the operating point of the motor 110 in mode two is thesame as would be the case under operation in mode one. Equivalently, onecan understand the operation of the combination of AC power source 140and AC-to-DC converter 130 as recharging the storage battery 120 whilethe storage battery 120 is being discharged because of the drainrepresented by the operation of the motor 110. In any event, the neteffect is to extend the time of operation of the motor 110 above whatwould be possible using the storage battery 120 alone. Those of ordinaryskill will also recognize that the system described above can bemodified by the addition of additional storage batteries 120 andadditional switching circuitry, so that a first storage battery 120 canprovide power to motor 110 while a second storage battery 120 (not shownin FIG. 1) is being recharged by the combination of AC power source 140and AC-to-DC converter 130. In some embodiments, during “mode two”operation when a golf green is wet, the storage battery providesapproximately 35 to 45 amps to the DC motor and the battery chargerprovides up to 20 amps. In some embodiments, during “mode two” operationwhen a golf green is dry, the storage battery provides approximately 65to 75 amps to the DC motor and the battery charger provides about 18 to20 amps.

In some embodiments, the control circuit 150 is configured to disconnectthe storage battery if the drain on the storage battery becomes toogreat (i.e., exceeds a defined current) such as is commonly achievedwith a circuit breaker, or if the storage battery voltage falls below aspecific lower threshold or setpoint voltage. In some embodiments, a 48volt nominal working voltage system has a lower threshold voltage of 44volts. In some embodiments, the control circuit 150 waits a definedperiod of time to permit a temporary fault to be cleared before acting,for example the control circuit 150 may have a 10 minute delay. In someembodiments, the control circuit 150 is configured to cause the batterycharger to cease charging when a specific higher threshold voltage isattained.

In some embodiments, the operation of the system using the storagebattery system 100 is as will now be described. The system is turned onand operated by any of a manual operation of a user, a timer, and acommand issued by a user or a program operating a programmable computersystem (e.g., a programmable master control module) such as a personalcomputer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone,a programmable logic controller (PLC), and industrial controller,whether directly connected to the system, or connected by way of ahard-wired communication link, a wireless communication link, afiber-optic communication link, a communication network, a telephonecommunication link, an optical communication link, and a packet-switchedcommunication link.

At system turn on, AC line voltage is provided to operate a DC relay andlogic power supply. Typically, the power supply operates at 24 volts DC.A “start” sequence including a “soft start” current limitation to theblower motor is initiated. The DC motor in one embodiment is a brushmotor, which represents a substantially zero impedance when notoperating. In this embodiment, a starting resistor of approximately 0.3ohm is initially switched into series connection between the DC motorand the storage battery, which resistor limits the initial current (orsurge current) flowing to the motor to the order of 100 amps, e.g., 48volts driving 0.3 ohms will cause 48/0.3=160 amps. A relay is providedto short out the resistor after a brief period, such as 1 second, oncethe motor begins to operate, at which time the windings have a backelectromotive force present, which causes the current to maintain afinite value. The current draw through the motor is then determined bythe load on the motor represented by the blower. In addition, acontactor between the charger and the storage battery is opened, so thatthe charger is reset to a “charge” state when the contactor is closedagain. This operating condition is a “mode one” operating condition. Inother embodiments, a solid state controller can be used to control thecurrent supplied to the motor on startup, and to control the motorduring operation. In yet another embodiment, it is optionally possibleto start the motor without any “soft start” control by connecting themotor directly to the storage battery. In the instance where no softstart is used, stresses are placed both on the motor at startup and onthe battery which has to supply a large surge current. In addition,starting the motor without a controlled acceleration places significantstresses on the coupling between the motor and the blower.

A short time, for example 5 seconds, after the motor begins to operatewith the 0.3 ohm resistor shorted out, the contactor between the chargerand the storage battery is closed, causing the battery charger to beginto provide charge to either or both of the storage battery and the DCmotor, which is described hereinabove as a “mode two” operatingcondition. The DC motor drives the blower during which time charge isdrained from the storage battery.

The control circuit comprises a device that monitors the current beingdrawn from the battery (e.g., a current monitor module). In oneembodiment, a Hall effect toroidal coil sensor with built-in adjustablesense level is used. The sensor senses DC current flow in a wire broughtthrough a hole located in the center of the module. Current sensing isdone by an internal Hall effect device. When the forward current flowgoes above a pre-adjusted set point, the output goes high. When theforward current falls below the pre-adjusted set-point, the output goeslow. A reverse current flow has no effect. The current sense set pointmay be in the range of 0–10, 0–100 or 0–200 amp depending on the modelselected. The sensor in one embodiment is a model CS880-100 DC currentsensing module available from RBE Electronics, 714 Corporation Street,Aberdeen, S.Dak. 57401, which is described at the web sitewww.rbeelectronics.com/cs880.htm.

In another embodiment, a shunt of resistance R ohms is used, whereby avoltage V=IR is generated across the shunt in proportion to the current,I, flowing through the shunt. The power lost in the shunt is given by1²R. For a shunt of sufficiently small resistance, even a current of 100amps will result in a small power loss, for example 100×100×0.0001=10watts for a resistance of 0.0001 ohm (e.g., 0.1 milliohm). Under theseconditions, V=100×0.0001=0.01 volts or 10 millivolts, a readilydiscernable voltage. In some embodiments, a limiting current is 75 amps,which corresponds to a shunt voltage of 7.5 millivolts. If the limitingcurrent value is reached, the control circuit can disconnect the motorfrom the storage battery and the battery charger, thereby turning thesystem off and protecting the storage battery. The control circuit canalso disconnect the motor from the storage battery and the batterycharger in the event that the storage battery voltage falls below apredefined lower threshold voltage, as described herein above.

The control circuit 150 in some embodiments comprises a storage batterydischarge monitoring module. In some embodiments, the storage batterydischarge monitoring module is a device that integrates with respect totime the amount of current drawn from the battery, for example by usingthe instantaneous values provided by the current monitor module. In oneembodiment, a battery storage discharge monitoring module is implementedby using an analog-to-digital converter with a sample-and-hold circuitto periodically sample the shunt voltage IR described above and toprovide a digital representation thereof, which is then processed by aprogrammable digital computer to derive the current I=V/R and tointegrate by summation the value I×Δt, where Δt represents a timeinterval between current observations. In another embodiment, the shuntvoltage is converted to a pulse train in a voltage controlledoscillator, and the pulses are counted, thereby providing aninstantaneous measure of voltage V, and hence of current I. When theintegrated value representing amp-hours reaches a threshold value, suchas 30 amp-hours, the control circuit can shut off the motor and blowerby disconnecting the storage battery/battery charger and the DC motor.In an alternative embodiment, the motor can be shut off after aspecified time period, such as 30 minutes, without actually measuringthe number of amp-hours of discharge current. In some embodiments, thetime of operation can be estimated based on the environmental conditionsof the area of interest, for example using a look-up table, which tablecan be generated by actual experience or can be generated by calculationusing a mathematical model. As those of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand, there are many ways that one can monitor the flow of chargeto and from a battery so as to know at a particular time the state ofcharge of the battery.

During operation, the control circuit can identify and can control thestate of the various valves in the subsurface aeration system. Forexample, the four way reversing unit comprises valves that need to beopened or closed in the correct relationship so as to define a flowdirection for air, thereby allowing the system to provide a selected oneof air under pressure and a partial vacuum, as explained hereinabove.The control circuit identifies the state of each of the valves in thefour way reversing unit. The state of one or more valves may be recordedin a machine readable memory as a truth table for each defined type ofoperation of the system. In some embodiments, the control circuitaccesses the truth table to determine the correct valve configurationfor the type of operation that is intended. The control circuit canthereby determine whether the subsurface aeration system is configuredto deliver pressurized air or partial vacuum, or if the four wayreversing valve is misconfigured (i.e., whether one or more of thevalves thereof is in an undefined state). The control circuit comparesthe then-current configuration to the configuration needed for the typeof operation that the system is supposed to be performing. As needed,the control circuit adjusts the valve positions or states to conform thesystem to the desired operation. In another embodiment, the controlcircuit uses a “brute force” configuration approach, in which it doesnot determine whether a valve is correctly or incorrectly configured,but merely issues commands to configure each valve according to apredefined set of configurations. The system can then be operated underthe presumption that each valve is properly configured, whether it wasso configured originally or not.

In normal operation, after the motor is turned off by disconnecting thestorage battery/battery charger from it, the battery charger remainsconnected to the storage battery to recharge the storage battery. Thebattery charger remains in an operating (“on”) state and recharges thestorage battery until the storage battery is observed by the controlcircuit to be fully charged. The control circuit turns off the batterycharger and disconnects the storage battery when the storage battery isfully charged. The state of charge of the storage battery can bemonitored by observing any one of several operating parameters of thestorage battery, such as the time rate of change of voltage, dv/dt, ofthe storage battery; the instantaneous voltage of the storage battery;or by measuring the amount of charge actually entering the battery,using the shunt method described hereinabove. When the storage batteryis deemed to have been recharged, the battery charger is disconnected.

In some embodiments, the components of the power supply portion of thesystem, including the storage battery, the AC power source, the AC-to-DCconverter, the various switches, relays and other interconnect hardwareare all situated within enclosures that can be opened by authorizedpersonnel, such as users of the system or individuals trained to installand repair the system, but not by unauthorized individuals. The presenceof enclosures is a safety measure, and the enclosures in someembodiments are provided with safety switches (or limit switches) atlocations such as doors or panels that can be opened, so that the systemis disabled upon the opening of a door or panel of the enclosure. Insome embodiments, there are provided jumpers or other devices fordefeating an activated safety switch so that the electrical componentscan be tested by an authorized person even with a door open or with apanel removed, as is well known in the electrical arts. In someembodiments, ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices areprovided at the 110 volt AC power mains to disable the system if anelectrical fault occurs.

FIG. 1A is a high level block diagram illustrating an embodiment of abattery 120, a controller 125, a motor 110 and a blower 19. In someembodiments, the controller 125 is a soft start resistor and relaycontrols for switching the resistor into and out of the circuit. In someembodiments, the controller 125 is a rheostat and the necessary relaycontacts. In some embodiments the controller is a solid state controllerthat can control the current provided to the motor so as to limitcurrent surges and control motor speed and acceleration, for example apulse width modulation device. In some embodiments, the controller 125is a switch.

FIG. 2 is a high level block diagram of a second storage battery systemfurther comprising an inverter 260 and an AC motor 210. Again, thesystem of FIG. 2 comprises a source of AC power 240, such as theabove-mentioned 110 volt AC power source when operating alone hasinsufficient capacity to drive a motor of suitable size to operate theair pump 19 satisfactorily.

In FIG. 2, an AC motor 210 is mechanically connected to a blower or airpump 19 by a shaft 212, which can include a transmission and/or clutchmechanism as is well known in the motor/blower arts. The blower or airpump 19 is connected by way of output line 202 and input line 204 to asubsurface aeration system that can provide at least one of air underpressure and a partial vacuum. The AC motor comprises power terminals214, 216 for operating the AC motor 210 when suitable DC voltage andcurrent are applied thereto. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, astorage battery 220 is provided for providing DC power to the inverter260, which in turn provides the required current and voltage needed bythe motor 210. The inverter 260 comprises terminals 264 and 266 that canbe connected to motor terminals 214 and 216, respectively. In FIG. 2,the connection of terminals 264 and 266 to terminals 214 and 216respectively is shown as being accomplished by a two pole switch 262that connects or disconnects, depending on its state, both of theconnections between the inverter 260 and the motor 210. The two poleswitch 262 is controlled by the control circuit 250 via a bi-directionalcontrol and data line 251.

The battery 220 requires recharging, for example when a sufficientlylong period of operation of the motor 210 and blower 19 has elapsed. TheAC power source 240 is electrically connected to an AC-to-DC converter230, such as a full- or half-wave rectifier circuit, with or withoutfiltering. The preferred AC-to-DC converter 230 is a high efficiencyfull-wave rectifier with filtering. The terminals 234 and 236 of theAC-to-DC converter (or battery charger) 230 connect electrically withthe corresponding terminal 224 and 226 of the storage battery 220. TheAC power source 240 and the AC-to-DC converter 230 when operative areconfigured to fully charge storage battery 220 to its rated capacityover a reasonable period of time, such as a period of tens of minutes tohours.

In FIG. 2, the connection of terminal 224 and terminal 234 is shown asbeing accomplished by a single pole switch 256 which can be opened,disconnecting the storage battery 210 from the AC-to-DC converter 230,and which switch 256 can be closed, thereby connecting the storagebattery 220 to the AC-to-DC converter 230. For simplicity, the secondconnection between terminal 226 of the storage battery 220 and terminal236 of the AC-to-DC converter 230 is shown without an interveningswitch; those of ordinary skill in the electrical arts will understandthat switch 256 could be replaced with a two pole switch that connectsor disconnects, depending on its state, both of the connections betweenthe storage battery 30 and the AC-to-DC converter 230.

FIG. 2 further indicates the presence of a control circuit 250 that isresponsive to commands. The commands are communicated to the controlcircuit over a communication line 259, which is at leastuni-directional, and in some embodiments is bi-directional. The controlcircuit 250 is operatively coupled via bi-directional control and dataline 255 to the storage battery 220 to control a connection of thestorage battery 220 to the inverter 260, to provide power to the motor,for example by controlling the state of switch 258. The control circuitis also operatively coupled via bi-directional control and data line 253to the battery charger 230 to control a connection of the storagebattery 220 to the battery charger 230, for example by controlling thestate of switch 256. In some embodiments, the control circuit 250 isalso operatively coupled to the combination of AC power source 240 andAC-to-DC converter 230 by bi-directional control and data line 253,whereby the control circuit 250 can turn the combination of AC powersource 240 and AC-to-DC converter 230 on and off as may be convenient ornecessary. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in theelectronic control arts, the system in some embodiments includesfeedback from the controlled components (e.g., storage battery 220,battery charger 230, motor 210) that provides the control circuit 250data or information which are useful in performing control actions. Inother embodiments, there is additionally control circuitry and logic atthe component being controlled, which control circuitry and logic alsohas the capacity to perform control functions.

In one mode of operation (which we shall term “mode one”), the storagebattery 220 alone is used to provide power to the motor 210 by way ofinverter 260. In a second mode of operation (which we shall term “modetwo”), the storage battery 220 and the AC power source 240 are bothconnected to the motor 210 to provide power thereto. The AC power source240 is connected to the motor by way of a two-pole switch 243. The twopole switch 243 is controlled by the control circuit 250 via abi-directional control and data line 252. In some embodiments, phase andfrequency sensing hardware and/or software and control circuitry areprovided to permit the synchronization of the phase and frequency of theAC power source and the output of the inverter 260 so that the powerfrom the two sources adds and does not destructively interfere whenoperated in “mode two.” In one embodiment, the inverter 260 comprisesphase and frequency sensing hardware, and is configured to adjust itsoutput to conform to the phase and frequency of the AC power source 240.

In the second mode, the AC power source 240 can be understood to providepower that supplements the power being provided by the storage battery220 by way of the inverter 260, thereby reducing the discharge rate thatthe storage battery 220 experiences, assuming that the operating pointof the motor 210 in mode two is the same as would be the case underoperation in mode one. In an alternative embodiment, the operation ofthe combination of AC power source 240 and AC-to-DC converter 230 can beused to recharge the storage battery 220 while the storage battery 220is being discharged by way of the inverter 260 because of the drainrepresented by the operation of the motor 210. In any event, the neteffect is to extend the time of operation of the motor 210 above whatwould be possible using the storage battery 220 alone. Those of ordinaryskill will also recognize that the system described above can bemodified by the addition of additional storage batteries 220 andadditional switching circuitry, so that a first storage battery 220 canprovide power to motor 210 while a second storage battery 220 (not shownin FIG. 2) is being recharged by the combination of AC power source 240and AC-to-DC converter 230.

The operation of the system using the AC motor of FIG. 2 issubstantially similar to that using a DC motor, with certain obviousvariations. The measurement of battery discharge current is measuredbetween the storage battery and the inverter 260. There is no need forthe 0.3 ohm starting resistor and all of the hardware and operatingsteps associated with that resistor are omitted.

The command that either of control circuit 150 of FIG. 1 or controlcircuit 250 of FIG. 2 receive can be a command generated by aprogrammable master control circuit, such as a programmable computer, acommand generated by the control circuit itself based on a program orgenerated by a hard-wired logic circuit, or a command from a user. Thevarious command scenarios will be discussed in greater detailhereinbelow.

At least one embodiment of the battery powered air handling system ofthe invention was constructed and tested, successfully demonstrating theprinciples of the invention. In this embodiment, a Briggs and StrattonDC motor was used to drive an aluminum blower fan. The air driven by thefan was carried by a conduit made from 8 inch diameter corrugatedplastic pipe. Different caps were attached to the delivery end of theconduit to simulate various conditions of air impedance that the airhandling system was expected to encounter. The caps included deviceshaving fixed discharge surface areas, as well as a variable damper thatcould be set within a range of positions representing differentimpedances to air flow. The parameters that were measured included thebattery voltage and current, the speed of the fan in revolutions perminute (RPM), the flow velocity of air in linear feet per minute, andthe back pressure in inches of water. Air linear flow velocity wasconverted to cubic feet per minute (CFM) based on the size of theconduit.

FIG. 3 is a graph of the observed values for electric current and forback pressure as a function of air flow delivered. The pressure observeddid not appreciably differ from 22 inches of water for flow ratesranging from about 200 CFM to about 1200 CFM. These results aresatisfactory. The observed electric current varied in the range of about38 amps at the 200 CFM flow rate to about 95 amps at the higher flowrates. The battery voltages observed were close to the nominal 48 voltsunder all test conditions, ranging from a high of about 51 volts at lowflow rate to about 47 volts at higher flow rates. The motor efficiencywas consistently in the 90 to 95 percent range, as computed from theelectrical power supplied by the battery and the estimated torque powerdelivered by the motor. The motor parameters were not graphed.

Using the observed operating parameters, values were computed forelectric power consumed, power transmitted to drive the flowing air, andthe efficiency of the fan, using standard calculations well known in theart and described in the technical literature. FIG. 4 is a graph of thecalculated results for electric power consumed, power transmitted todrive the flowing air, and the efficiency of the fan as a function ofair flow delivered. The fan efficiency at low flow rates ofapproximately 250 CFM are relatively low, in the range of 35 to 40percent. The fan efficiency for higher flow rates (e.g., above about 550CFM) is significantly higher, ranging from 67 to 77 percent.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a motor-blower assembly useful inpracticing the invention. The motor 610 is a DC permanent magnet motor.The blower 620 comprises a housing 622, which is constructed from asuitable protective material, such as 10 gauge sheet steel, havingapertures for air to enter therein, and for air to be expelledtherefrom. The apertures are not shown in FIG. 6, but are well known inthe motor-blower arts. The blower comprises a fan 624. In oneembodiment, the blower is a Twin City fan model 18W8, available fromTwin City Fan & Blower, 5959 Trenton Lane North, Minneapolis, Minn.55442-3238.

FIG. 7 is a plan diagram 700 of a motor-blower 710, a battery bankcomprising batteries 720 and a conduit 730 situated with a chamber 740.The chamber 740 may be above ground or below ground. The chamber 740 isprovided to protect its contents from the elements and from beingvandalized or stolen. FIG. 7 does not show the various connections ofthe components.

FIG. 8 is a plan diagram that shows an arrangement of componentsemployed in testing the noise level generated during the operation of asystem built according to the principles of the invention. Thecomponents shown include a location for a housing 820 used to containthe motor-blower (not shown, but see FIG. 7), a location of a storagebattery array 830, and the location of a data collection point 840situated at a distance of approximately 15 feet from a side of thelocation of the housing 820. The housing comprises a vent 822 and a duct824 such as would be used in a subsurface aeration conduit providingaeration services to a golf green. Noise levels were recorded for aboveground configurations, with and without a silencer. Noise levels as lowas 66 db were observed. It is expected that even lower noise levels canbe achieved using the principles of the invention, for example by addingfoam insulation to the housing 820.

Golf Course Environmental Management System

Another feature of the invention relates to systems and methods formanaging a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course. Thesystems and methods of the invention use one or more sensors to provideinformation about the state of various environmental variables, such asan ambient air temperature, a soil temperature, and a soil moisturecontent. The systems and methods disclosed use the information todetermine whether there is a need to adjust one or more of theenvironmental conditions, and if so, how best to effect the necessaryadjustment or adjustments.

FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a plurality of electromechanical subsystems,each subsystem dedicated to a specific area of a golf course, andcommunicating with a programmable master control module. In FIG. 9, eachelectromechanical system comprises a subsurface aeration conduit and anair pump in fluid communication with the subsurface aeration conduit forproviding to the specific area of the golf course at least one of airunder pressure and a partial vacuum. The air pump is configured toprovide at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum, as hasbeen described hereinabove in several embodiments. A motor ismechanically connected to the air pump. A local control module isprovide that is operatively coupled to the motor. The local controlmodule is responsive to a directive and to a datum. Theelectromechanical system also comprises at least one sensor thatmeasures an environmental parameter. The at least one sensor is in datacommunication with the local control module. The programmable mastercontrol module receives from at least one of the plurality of localcontrol modules information representing a status of the respectivespecific area to which the local control module is dedicated, and inresponse to the information and to a command, the programmable mastercontrol module issues a directive to the local control module to operatethe electromechanical subsystem.

In describing the system of the invention, certain words will beintended to convey particular meanings, which are not unlike their usagein common English, in order that the claim terminology will be moreexplicit than it might otherwise have been. The term “directive” as usedherein is intended to mean an instruction from the programmable mastercontrol module to a local control module. The term “command” as usedherein is intended to mean a computer instruction of a program operatingon a computer or an instruction of a control logic sequence of a logiccontroller, or a user command for the programmable master controlmodule. A user who issues directions of any kind to a local controlmodule directly can be understood to have issued a directive even if theword “command” is used to express the users action. The term “faultcondition” as used herein is intended to mean that someelectromechanical component or a local control module is not in properoperating order, and should be attended to (e.g., fixed, replaced). Theterm “alarm condition” as used herein is intended to mean that someoperating condition (such as a temperature or a moisture content) is outof tolerance and needs to be corrected by operating the system, but doesnot imply anything about the condition of the electromechanicalcomponents. The term “setpoint” as used herein is intended to mean avalue set by default, by a computer program, or by an operator to definea desired value of a parameter or condition, or an extremum of a rangeof acceptable values. An alarm condition occurs when a setpoint isdeviated from, or an extremum of a range is exceeded. The term “closedloop operation” is well known in the computer control arts, andgenerally is understood to mean that a system uses a value generated asan output of a process as an input variable. “Closed loop operation” isdistinguished from “open loop operation,” which is used to describe asystem that sets a control parameter with an eye to obtaining a specificoutput, but does not monitor an output variable for use in correctingthe operation of the system. In the present invention, “closed loopoperation” is also used to connote that the system will start and stopautomatically based on the value or values of one or more variables suchas the actual temperature and moisture content of soil or turf, and theambient air temperature, which are compared to criteria or setpoints bya computer program of logic controller.

It is believed that heretofore, there has been no system such as isdescribed and claimed herein that has been used with regard to golfcourses. The inventors are aware that some sports fields, including thesoccer field of Manchester United (U.K.), the soccer field of Kilmarnock(U.K.), the baseball and softball fields at the University of Nebraska,and the football field of the Denver Broncos in Denver, Colo., haveemployed similar methods of operation to those described herein.However, as stated hereinabove, it is believed that the variedconditions found in golf courses, which are appreciably different fromthe conditions found in a single unvarying expanse such as a football, abaseball, a softball or a soccer field, makes the application of thesystems and methods of the invention to golf courses novel. See thesecond paragraph of the Detailed Description for examples.

The local control modules of the electromechanical subsystems receivedata from the various sensors provided for the respective areas ofinterest. The local control modules in one embodiment are PLCs. In oneembodiment, at least one of the local control modules further comprisesa communication link accessible by way of a hand-held battery-powereddevice. In one embodiment, the hand-held battery-powered device is aselected one of a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), and a pocket personal computer (pocket PC). The sensors canmonitor environmental parameters such as ambient air temperature, soiltemperature, soil moisture, soil salinity, air pressure within aconduit, and solar radiation level, as well as other parameters such asmotion within an area of interest, an image of an area of interest,sounds present at an area of interest and other information that may beuseful in operating the system of the invention. In various embodiments,the sensors provide data to the respective local control modules as rawdata, as digital data, or as data in a specified format.

The system of the present invention in one embodiment uses a wirelessnetworking technology for communication between the local controlmodules and the programmable master control module. Advantages of awireless system over a hard-wired system can include greater ease ofinstallation, lowered cost of installation, greater speed ofinstallation, and reduced chance of damage by lightning strikes as aresult of the absence of a large “antenna” or “target” for lightningrepresented by miles of copper wiring. In a retrofit situation, awireless installation can represent a smaller disruption to theoperation of the golf course as compared to installing a hard-wiredsystem. The communications can also be implemented using a hard-wiredcommunication link, a fiber-optic communication link, or any otherconventional communication link that can handle the transmission of dataand instructions. In one embodiment, the system has the capability tocommunicate by way of a communication network, such as the Internet. Inone embodiment, the communication network comprises a selected one of atelephone communication link, a wireless communication link, an opticalcommunication link, and a packet-switched communication link. In oneconfiguration, the system comprises eighteen (18) electromechanicalsubsystems, each one dedicated to a green of a golf course. However, thesystem can also be used with other portions of a golf course, such as atleast a plurality of one or more golf greens, one or more fairways, oneor more tee boxes, one or more walkways, one or more gallery viewingareas, one or more driving ranges, one or more putting greens, and oneor more practice areas.

The programmable master control module is configured to receiveinformation from the local control modules, and to send directives tothe local control modules. The programmable master control module in oneembodiment is a selected one of a programmable computer, a programmablelogic controller (PLC), and a programmable industrial controller. Theprogrammable master control module is programmed with software. In someembodiments, the software is a computer program comprised of one or morecomputer instructions recorded on a machine-readable medium. When thecomputer program is executing on the programmable master control module,one or more setpoints are defined for the operation of eachelectromechanical subsystem. The programmable master control module cancompare a setpoint (or a range of acceptable values defined by a firstextremum, such as a low soil temperature setpoint, and a secondextremum, such as a high soil temperature setpoint, to an actual valueof an environmental parameter observed by a sensor. A single valuesetpoint can include a tolerance about the setpoint (e.g. X degrees F.,plus or minus 0.5 degrees F.). If the actual value of the environmentalparameter is within an acceptable range, the programmable master controlmodule can indicate that fact to a user of the system, for example, bydisplaying on a display the value in green. The programmable mastercontrol module can determine if an alarm condition exists, for examplewhen one or more actual values of environmental parameters fall outsideacceptable ranges. If the actual value is outside of an acceptablerange, the programmable master control module can indicate that an alarmcondition exists, and the fact that caused the alarm to a user of thesystem, for example, by displaying on a display an out-of-range value inred, by displaying the value with a unique font or a unique visual oraudible attribute, by for example by flashing the value or emitting asound. Optionally, the display also indicates the acceptable range forthe out-of-range value. In some embodiments, the programmable mastercontrol module displays in a defined manner to a user the values ofparameters that are being controlled to bring an out-of-range parameterwithin an acceptable range, for example displaying a value in yellowwhile the value is out-of-range and the system is taking action toadjust or correct the value. Similar displays are optionally provided ata local control module when a user is operating the respective localcontrol system directly, and/or at a remote location when a user iscommunicating with the system from such a remote location.

The programmable master control module can be programmed to institute aremedial action if an alarm condition exists. For example, when one ormore actual values of environmental parameters fall outside acceptableranges, the programmable master control module determines the status ofthe particular area of interest. In some embodiments, a truth table isprovided for each area of interest, including at least the one or moresetpoints or setpoint-defined ranges for environmental parameters. Theprogrammable master control module determines what corrective orremedial action should be instituted by performing one or moreoperations, such as comparing the status to a list of predefinedremedial actions to be issued as directives, or by performing logicaloperations configured to yield one or more directives. The programmablemaster control module issues one or more directives to the respectivelocal control module to operate the respective electromechanicalsubsystem to take the remedial action. The programmable master controlmodule is configured in one embodiment to repeat from time to time thedetermination of the status of the particular are of interest, and whilethe determination indicates that additional remedial action is needed,directing the local control module to operate the subsurface aerationsystem to perform the necessary action. When the programmable mastercontrol module determines that the status of the area of interestconforms to the acceptable setpoint values, the programmable mastercontrol module directs the local control module to turn off thesubsurface aeration system.

The programmable master control module is programmed to accept commandsfrom an authorized user of the system, for example from a greens keeper,using an input device such as a keyboard. In some embodiments, thesystem is programmable to require that the user identify him- or herselfto the system, for example with a token, such as a user name, a key, ora machine-readable card, and/or with a password or identificationnumber, so as to prevent unauthorized operation of the system. In someembodiments, the system can transmit information for display to a userat a remote location and can receive information and commands from theuser. For example, the greens keeper can review the status of one ormore areas of a golf course from home, and as needed, can control theactions of the system from that remote location. The input and/orresponses of the user can include commands, answers to queries and/orreplies to information (by way of dialog boxes, radio buttons, andsliders as are well known in the computer interface arts), informationin the form of files (such as new or improved programs), and updatedsetpoints. In some instances, the user is an individual or a computerassociated with the vendor or supplier of the system.

The system of the invention can be programmed to operate at specifictimes, for example, during the evening or night when the areas ofinterest are not being used. Sensors can be used to detect the presenceof players (including the data provided by any one or more of motiondetection by motion sensors, visual images provided by electroniccameras, and sound detection by microphones) so that operation ofcertain features of the invention, such as the irrigation system, can beoverridden or suppressed at appropriate times. In an alternativeembodiment, infrared sensors are provided to detect infrared signalsthat may represent body heat or heat from a motor of a vehicle, such asa golf cart. In order to determine whether detected motion is caused byintruders, the system can activate one or more lights to permit visualsignals to be recorded at night.

In some embodiments, the control of a specific area of interest can beaccomplished using the local control module. In such instances, thelocal control module comprises a controller such as a PC, a PLC, oranother microprocessor-based controller. The local control moduleoperates software or a control logic sequence to receive data from oneor more sensors, and to analyze the data to determine if any remedialaction is necessary. If remedial action is needed, the local controlmodule institutes the remedial action, and terminates the remedialaction when a suitable outcome is obtained. The local control module insuch an instance communicates with the programmable master controlmodule to provide status information, so that a user of the system canbe fully apprised of what transpires.

In some instances, a user of the system interacts with a local controlmodule of a specific area of interest in a local mode. For example, whenon site, a greens keeper can operate a local control module to perform anecessary operation of the electromechanical subsystem dedicated to thearea of interest. The greens keeper might want to make specificadjustments, perform maintenance, or otherwise personally oversee anoperation of the system at that location. Conveniently, a user cancommunicate with and control a local control module using a localdisplay and a touch pad, a touch screen, a keyboard, or anotherconvenient interface. Keyboards proving access by way of infraredinterfaces, such as an IrDA interface, are also known. The user cancommunicate with at least one of the local control modules that furthercomprises a communication link accessible by way of a hand heldbattery-powered device. In one embodiment, the hand-held battery-powereddevice is a selected one of a cellular telephone, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), and a pocket personal computer (pocket PC), which theuser uses to gain access the local control module and to operate it, andthereby the specific electromechanical subsystem.

In some embodiments, the programmable master control module alsoprovides a data logging capability and a data trending capability. Thedata logging and trending capabilities can be provided using anycommercial database management software, proprietary database managementsoftware, and/or spreadsheet software. Data logging and trending is wellknown in the information technology arts, and will not be discussed atlength herein.

The system provides fault detection capability. In some embodiments, theprogrammable master control module (by way of a local control module)monitors that status of components of the system. For example, the localcontrol module can determine if a motor is drawing excessive power, orif the voltage across a storage battery is out of tolerance. The faultcondition can be exhibited or enunciated to a user at any of a localcontrol module, the programmable master control module, and a remotelocation when a user communicates with the system from such a remotelocation.

FIGS. 10–13 are drawings depicting exemplary embodiments of a localcontrol module with different features. FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of alocal control module 1410 that has a basic complement of features,including the ability to control the on or off state of a motor-blower1412, the ability to control whether the motor-blower operates toprovide air pressure or to provide a partial vacuum 1414, the ability todefine a preset start time for operating the subsurface aerationsubsystem controlled by the local control module 1416, and the abilityto display fault conditions 1418. The local control module 1410 also hasthe ability to sense a flood condition 1420 in a vault (e.g., waterentering the vault) in which the motor-blower and other components aresecured, and can provide power 1422 to operate a sump pump and/or itsassociated power supply so as to prevent or counteract the floodingcondition. The local control module can send a command 1430 to thereversing valve to determine a partial vacuum or air pressureconfiguration (e.g., actuator vacuum/pressure position). The localcontrol module can send a command 1440 to activate or to deactivate themotor-blower, and in some embodiments, can activate/deactivate as manyas six motor blower devices. A vault may be located below ground orabove ground. With an above ground vault, the controls are located in anenclosure within the vault. For a below ground vault, the controls arelocated in an enclosure mounted above ground and communication wiresconnect it to the devices located within the vault.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a local control module 1410 that hasthe basic complement of features shown in FIG. 10 and in addition, theoptional feature of controlling an irrigation system 1510. In someembodiments, the irrigation system can operate according to commandsgenerated by a controller associated with the irrigation system 1510itself, and, using bi-directional communication channel 1518, cancommunicate information such as an on or off state 1512, whether it isoperating when the aeration system is configured in one of partialvacuum operation or air pressure operation, and commanded to beginoperation at an optional preset start time 1516. In other embodiments,the irrigation system 1510 can be commanded, using bi-directionalcommunication channel 1518, to turn on and off 1512, commanded 1514 tooperate when the aeration system is configured in one of partial vacuumoperation or air pressure operation, and commanded 1516 to beginoperation at an optional preset start time. In some embodiments, thesystem can include logic to operate the irrigation system 1510 todeliberately increase a moisture content of the soil when adding wateris appropriate.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a local control module 1410 that hasthe basic complement of features shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and inaddition, the feature of using a PDA 1610 to duplicate 1620 all of thecontrol features of the local control module 1410. The PDA 1610 alsoprovides the ability to collect historical operating information 1630,for example for statistical data analysis and for trending analysis.

FIG. 13 shows a local control module 1410 that has the basic complementof features shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and in addition, the feature ofusing a wireless modem 1710 to provide remote two way communication 1720with the local control module 1710. The wireless modem 1710 provides theability to control all of the local control modules from a centrallocation 1730, for example using a personal computer situated in aclubhouse of a golf course.

FIG. 14 is a drawing showing an exemplary embodiment of a user display.In one embodiment, the user display is provided on any or all of acomputer monitor, a PDA display screen, and a cellular telephone displayscreen. In some embodiments, the display screen is a touch screen. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 14, the display areas presented to a user includethe following: an identifier “GREEN NUMBER” and a display box 1812 inwhich a number is displayed; an identifier “ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS” withthree data identifiers, namely “green temperature,” “green moisture,”and “ambient temperature,” followed respectively by regions 1814, 1816,1818 in each of which a number is displayed, for example temperature ineither degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius, and moisture content as apercentage; a “SELECT MODE” identifier, with three possible modes,identified as “manual,” “automatic,” and “timed,” followed respectivelyby regions 1822, 1824, 1826 that can be “buttons” such as are commonlypresented to a user of a computer in a graphical user interface (“GUI”)such as Microsoft Windows or they can be regions that are activated by akey press or mouse click, so that a user is informed which mode isselected for example by illumination, by color change, by highlightingsuch as flashing, or by any other convenient visual indication; and atthe bottom of the display, three regions comprising “buttons” orindicators, one each for “MANUAL MODE,” “TIMED MODE,” and “AUTOMATICMODE.” In the event that “manual mode” is selected, the user can turnthe motor-blower on or off, by activating a respective one of indicators1832, 1834, and can select provision of partial vacuum or air pressureduring operation by activating a respective one of indicators 1836,1838. The indicators 1832, 1834, 1836 and 1838 can be regions similar tothe regions 1822, 1824 and 1826. In the event that the “timed mode” isselected, numerical indications of time (e.g., in a format such ashours:minutes with or without an AM or PM indication) appear in regions1842 and 1844, which respectively indicate a time for the controlledmotor-blower to start, and a time for the controlled motor-blower tostop operation, as well as indicators 1846 and 1848, which are similarto indictors 1836 and 1838, and which respectively indicate operationwith provision of partial vacuum or air pressure. In the event that“automatic mode” is selected, the display indicates a moisture setpointin region 1852, an ambient temperature setpoint in region 1854, and anoptional maximum time of operation in region 1856. The automatic modewhen active deals with moisture and temperature excursions from desiredvalues, and can indicate, by activating indicators 1857, 1858, and 1859,whether the automatic system is operating to deal with an excursion inmoisture content, an excursion in temperature, or excursions in bothparameters, by activating a respective one of indicators 1857, 1858 and1859. In some embodiment, the display 1810 can further include a logo1880, a vendor name 1882, and an indication that the system is a “GREENSMANAGEMENT SYSTEM” 1884 (or GMS 1886).

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an exemplary local control module 1410, showingvarious control signal paths. The local control module 1410 receivessignals from a PDA 1905 module indicating the on/off 1912 condition of amotor-blower, the air pressure/partial vacuum configuration 1914 of areversing valve, and a timer on/off time 1916. The local control module1410 receives information about the condition of an optional irrigationsystem, including whether the irrigation system is on or off 1922, andwhether the irrigation system is configured to operate when thereversing valve is configured to provide air pressure or partial vacuum1924. The local control module 1410 provides signals indicating thepresence of a fault 1930, for example by illuminating a fault light,which can indicate any of the conditions of low batteries 1932, aproblem in the battery vault 1934 such as flooding, a motor overload1936, and a motor underload 1938. A signal 1940 is provided to indicatethat the motor-blower is starting (or is operating), and a signal 1950is provided to indicate the configuration of the reversing valve (e.g.,providing air pressure or partial vacuum). The local control module 1410can in some embodiments receive signals from other hand heldcontrollers, such as cellular telephones. The local control module 1410can communicate as well with the programmable master control module.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of an illustrative communication configurationincluding a local control module (LCM) 1410 and a programmable mastercontrol module (PMCM) 1910, and showing various environmental sensorsignal paths. In FIG. 31 the local control module 1410 receives avariety of environmental signals from sensors, including humidity 2022,green (or soil) temperature 2024, green (or soil) moisture 2026, ambienttemperature 2028, solar radiation level 2030, air flow/air pressure in aconduit 2032, and other signals 2034. The data collected by the localcontrol module 1410 is communicated in one embodiment by wirelesscommunication link 2040 to a programmable master control module 1910.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of communicationpaths including remote access via the Internet. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 17, a local control module 1410 communicates by radio modem witha programmable master control module 1910, which in turn is (optionally)in communication with a remote access site 2110 connected by way of theInternet. The local control module 1410 receives signals 1412, 1414 froma sensor that monitors the current provided to the motor-blower. Thelocal control module 1410 in the embodiment of FIG. 17 controls threesubsurface aeration subsystems, and can issue commands to turn motors onand off, and to control a configuration of a reversing valve. The localcontrol module 1410 sends information to a programmable master controlmodule 1910, and receives directives from the programmable mastercontrol module 1910. In turn, the programmable master control module1910 communicates fault conditions 2120, status information such asmotor-blower power and/or current 2122 and the like to the remote accesssite 2110 which is manned by a user. The information sent to the remoteaccess site 2110, which in some embodiments is a personal computer, canbe any information that would be displayed to a user on the displayscreen 1810, as well as other information useful for statisticalanalysis and trending analysis. The user at the remote access site 2110can issue commands including, for example, start and stop commands 2124for a motor-blower, and configuration commands 2126 to configure areversing valve to provide a selected one of air under pressure or apartial vacuum. The programmable master control module 1910 in turnissues directives to the local control module 1410, by which directivesthe local control module 1410 is instructed to carry out the commands ofthe user operating the remote access site 2110.

FIG. 18 is an enumeration of some of the components, communication andcontrol channels, and logic structure of one or more embodiments of thegolf course environmental management system. The components enumeratedinclude an equipment panel and various field devices. The equipmentpanel is one example of the local control module described hereinabove.The field devices include a high pressure blower, an air reversing valveand actuator, a sump pump, a float switch, a moisture/soil temperaturesensor, and an ambient air temperature sensor, as well as associatedoperational equipment such as a local electrical disconnect, atransformer, a motor contactor, a current switch, a motor overloadindicator, relays for various purposes, such as starting the motor andoperating the actuator for the air reversing valve, a panel door switchand a fault light on the panel door. Some of the field devices areoptional in some embodiments. FIG. 18 describes in overview some of thecommunication and control lines that are provided in some embodiments,and the signals that pass along the communication and control lines. Inone embodiment, the description of the communication and control refersto control signals and status signals that are communicated to and fromthe programmable master control module described hereinabove. The logicrequirements, such as blower on based on time of day, or blower on basedon temperature and or moisture, can be implemented by local controlmodule itself, or by the programmable master control module (or by auser of the system) and communicated as a directive to the local controlmodule.

The invention furthermore makes possible a method of decreasing themoisture content of soil in a specific area of interest selected from aplurality of areas of interest within a golf course. The methodcomprises the steps of providing a subsurface aeration system at each ofthe plurality of areas of interest, and operating the subsurfaceaeration system to provide at least a partial vacuum when the soilmoisture is greater than a first setpoint value, thereby drawing ambientair through the specific area of interest, causing the partial vacuum toassist in the gravity draining of water from the soil. Each subsurfaceaeration system comprises a subsurface aeration conduit for providing tothe specific area of the golf course at least one of air under pressureand a partial vacuum; an air pump in fluid communication with thesubsurface aeration conduit, the air pump configured to provide at leastone of air under pressure and a partial vacuum; a motor mechanicallyconnected to the air pump; at least one sensor that measures a soilmoisture.

In one embodiment, the at least one sensor that measures a soil moistureand the at least one sensor that measures a soil temperature are aunitary structure.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of providing acontrol module responsive to a directive, and to the soil moisture, thecontrol module coupled to the subsurface aeration system to control theoperation thereof determining whether the soil moisture is greater thana first setpoint value, causing the subsurface aeration system tooperate to decrease the soil moisture content.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises repeating from time totime the determining step, and while the determination is positive,directing the local control module to operate the subsurface aerationsystem to decrease the soil moisture content of soil.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of providing aprogrammable master control module in communication with the controlmodule; receiving at the programmable master control module informationsent from the control module, the information representing the soilmoisture content, comparing it to the first setpoint, and, if thedetermination is positive, issuing from the programmable master controlmodule the directive to the local control module to operate theelectromechanical subsystem decrease the moisture content of the soil.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises repeating from time totime the determining step, and while the determination is positive,issuing from the programmable master control module the directive to thelocal control module to operate the electromechanical subsystem todecrease the moisture content of the soil.

As should be evident from the disclosure above, systems embodyingprinciples of the invention provide an effective means for treatingsubsoil regions to maintain the soil temperatures at desired levels. Atthe same time, the systems can be utilized to promote drainage in theseregions as well as providing for subsoil chemical treatment andaeration. The systems can be easily retrofitted to existing golf greensor other similar underground drainage systems or incorporated into newconstruction.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to usein association with a four way flow reversing valve, this valve can bereplaced by a universal coupling that permits the separator to beselectively coupled to either the discharge or the suction port of theblower. This combined with the use of the above described mobile unit,provides for an economically feasible system for treating existinggreens that are in compliance with USGA specifications. Stationarysystems embodying the apparatus of the present invention are containedbelow ground in specially prepared vaults and also located above groundinside an enclosure and that the local controls associated with thesystem are automatically operated so that the system is controlled froma remote location without having to enter the vault or enclosure. Theprinciples of the invention can also be applied to California-styledrainage systems and to other presently unknown configurations of golfcourse drainage systems.

Machine-readable storage media that can be used in the invention includeelectronic, magnetic and/or optical storage media, such as 3.25 inchmagnetic floppy disks and hard disks, a DVD drive, a CD drive that insome embodiments can employ DVD disks, any of CD-ROM disks (i.e.,read-only optical storage disks), CD-R disks (i.e., write-once,read-many optical storage disks), and CD-RW disks (i.e., rewriteableoptical storage disks); and electronic storage media, such as RAM, ROM,EPROM, Compact Flash cards, PCMCIA cards, or alternatively SD or SDIOmemory; and the electronic components (e.g., floppy disk drive, DVDdrive, CD/CD-R/CD-RW drive, or Compact Flash/PCMCIA/SD adapter) thataccommodate and read from and/or write to the storage media. As is knownto those of skill in the machine-readable storage media arts, new mediaand formats for data storage are continually being devised, and anyconvenient, commercially available storage medium and correspondingread/write device that may become available in the future is likely tobe appropriate for use, especially if it provides any of a greaterstorage capacity, a higher access speed, a smaller size, and a lowercost per bit of stored information. Well known older machine-readablemedia are also available for use under certain conditions, such aspunched paper tape or cards, magnetic recording on tape or wire, opticalor magnetic reading of printed characters (e.g., OCR and magneticallyencoded symbols) and such machine-readable symbols as one and twodimensional bar codes.

Those of ordinary skill will recognize that many functions of electricaland electronic apparatus can be implemented in hardware (for example,hard-wired logic), in software (for example, logic encoded in a programoperating on a general purpose processor), and in firmware (for example,logic encoded in a non-volatile memory that is invoked for operation ona processor as required). The present invention contemplates thesubstitution of one implementation of hardware, firmware and softwarefor another implementation of the equivalent functionality using adifferent one of hardware, firmware and software. To the extent that animplementation can be represented mathematically by a transfer function,that is, a specified response is generated at an output terminal for aspecific excitation applied to an input terminal of a “black box”exhibiting the transfer function, any implementation of the transferfunction, including any combination of hardware, firmware and softwareimplementations of portions or segments of the transfer function, iscontemplated herein.

While the present invention has been explained with reference to thestructure disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forthand this invention is intended to cover any modifications and changes asmay come within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

1. A battery powered source for an air handling system used forsubsurface aeration, comprising: an air pump configured to provide atleast one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum; a motormechanically connected to said air pump; a storage battery for providingpower to said motor; a battery charger for charging said storagebattery, said battery charger obtaining power from a power source, saidpower source when operating alone having insufficient capacity to drivea motor of suitable size to operate said air pump satisfactorily; and acontrol circuit responsive to commands, said control circuit operativelycoupled to said storage battery to control a connection of said storagebattery to provide power to said motor; whereby, in response to acommand, said control circuit connects said storage battery to providepower to said motor, and said storage battery provides sufficient powerto operate said air pump satisfactorily for operation of an air handlingsystem used for subsurface aeration.
 2. The battery powered source foran air handling system of claim 1, further comprising a reversingmechanism in fluid communication with said air pump, said reversingmechanism configured to cause air to flow in a first flow direction toprovide air under pressure, and configured to cause air to flow in asecond flow direction to provide a partial vacuum.
 3. The batterypowered source for an air handling system of claim 1, wherein saidcontrol circuit is operatively coupled to said storage battery and tosaid battery charger to control a connection of at least one of saidstorage battery and said battery charger to provide power to said motor.4. The battery powered source for an air handling system of claim 1,wherein said storage battery is a deep discharge battery.
 5. The batterypowered source for an air handling system of claim 1, wherein said motoris a DC motor.
 6. The battery powered source for an air handling systemof claim 5, wherein said control circuit is operatively coupled to saidstorage battery and to said battery charger to connect said storagebattery and said battery charger to provide power to said DC motor. 7.The battery powered source for an air handling system of claim 1,wherein said system further comprises an inverter configured to beconnected to said storage battery, and said motor is an AC motor.
 8. Thebattery powered source for an air handling system of claim 7, whereinsaid control circuit is operatively coupled to said storage battery toconnect said storage battery to said inverter to provide power to saidAC motor.
 9. The battery powered source for an air handling system ofclaim 8, wherein said control circuit connects said storage battery tosaid inverter, and connects said inverter and said AC power source toprovide power to said AC motor.
 10. The battery powered source for anair handling system of claim 1, wherein said power source is a selectedone of an AC power source, a solar cell array, a generator driven by anengine, a wind turbine, and a fuel cell.
 11. The air handling system ofclaim 10, wherein said engine is an engine that uses a selected one ofgasoline, diesel fuel, compressed gas, and natural gas as fuel.
 12. Anair handling system used for subsurface aeration, comprising: asubsurface aeration conduit for providing to a designated area at leastone of air under pressure and a partial vacuum; an air pump in fluidcommunication with said subsurface aeration conduit, said air pumpconfigured to provide at least one of air under pressure and a partialvacuum; a motor mechanically connected to said air pump; a storagebattery for providing power to said motor; a battery charger forcharging said storage battery, said battery charger obtaining power froma power source, said power source when operating alone havinginsufficient capacity to drive a motor of suitable size to operate saidair pump satisfactorily; and a control circuit responsive to commands,said control circuit operatively coupled to said storage battery tocontrol a connection of said storage battery to provide power to saidmotor; whereby, in response to a command, said control circuit connectssaid storage battery to provide power to said motor, and said storagebattery provides sufficient power to operate said air pumpsatisfactorily for operation of said air handling system used forsubsurface aeration.
 13. The air handling system of claim 12, whereinsaid power source is a selected one of an AC power source, a solar cellarray, a generator driven by an engine, a wind turbine, and a fuel cell.14. The air handling system of claim 13, wherein said engine is anengine that uses a selected one of gasoline, diesel fuel, compressedgas, and natural gas as fuel.
 15. The air handling system of claim 12,further comprising a reversing mechanism in fluid communication withsaid air pump and with said subsurface aeration conduit, said reversingmechanism configured to cause air to flow in a first flow direction toprovide air under pressure, and configured to cause air to flow in asecond flow direction to provide a partial vacuum.
 16. The air handlingsystem of claim 12, wherein said control circuit is operatively coupledto said storage battery and to said battery charger to control aconnection of at least one of said storage battery and said batterycharger to provide power to said motor.
 17. The air handling system ofclaim 12, wherein said storage battery is a deep discharge battery. 18.The air handling system of claim 12, wherein said motor is a DC motor.19. The air handling system of claim 18, wherein said control circuit isoperatively coupled to said storage battery and to said battery chargerto connect said storage battery and said battery charger to providepower to said DC motor.
 20. The air handling system of claim 12, whereinsaid system further comprises an inverter configured to be connected tosaid storage battery, and said motor is an AC motor.
 21. The airhandling system of claim 20, wherein said control circuit connects saidstorage battery to said inverter, and connects said inverter to providepower to said AC motor.
 22. The air handling system of claim 20, whereinsaid control circuit connects said storage battery to said inverter, andconnects said inverter and said power source to provide power to said ACmotor.
 23. The air handling system of claim 12, wherein said designatedarea is an area situated within a golf course.
 24. The air handlingsystem of claim 23, wherein said area situated within a golf coursecomprises at least a portion of a selected one of a golf course green, afairway, a tee, a bunker, a walkway, a gallery viewing area, a drivingrange, a putting green, and a practice area.
 25. A method of providingsubsurface aeration services to an area of interest, comprising thesteps of: providing a subsurface aeration system that is configured tosupply to a designated area at least one of air under pressure and apartial vacuum, said subsurface aeration system comprising; a subsurfaceaeration conduit for providing to a designated area at least one of airunder pressure and a partial vacuum; an air pump in fluid communicationwith said subsurface aeration conduit, said air pump configured toprovide at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum; a motormechanically connected to said air pump; a storage battery for providingpower to said motor; a battery charger for charging said storagebattery, said battery charger obtaining power from a power source, saidpower source when operating alone having insufficient capacity to drivea motor of suitable size to operate said air pump satisfactorily; and acontrol circuit responsive to commands, said control circuit operativelycoupled to said storage battery to control a connection of said storagebattery to provide power to said motor; and issuing a command wherebysaid control circuit connects said storage battery to provide power tosaid motor, and said storage battery provides sufficient power tooperate said air pump satisfactorily to provide at least one of airunder pressure and a partial vacuum to said area of interest.
 26. Themethod of providing subsurface aeration services of claim 25, whereinsaid area of interest is an area situated within a golf course.
 27. Themethod of providing subsurface aeration services of claim 26, whereinsaid area situated within a golf course comprises a selected one of agolf course green, a fairway, a tee, a walkway, a gallery viewing area,a driving range, a putting green, and a practice area.
 28. The method ofproviding subsurface aeration services of claim 25, wherein said step ofissuing a command is repeated so that during a first time interval airunder pressure is provided to said area of interest and during a secondtime interval distinct from said first time interval a partial vacuum isprovided to said area of interest.
 29. The method of providingsubsurface aeration services of claim 25, wherein said subsurfaceaeration system further comprises a reversing mechanism in fluidcommunication with said air pump and with said subsurface aerationconduit, whereby, in response to a command, said reversing mechanismcauses air to flow in a selected one of a first flow direction toprovide air under pressure and a second flow direction to provide apartial vacuum.
 30. The method of providing subsurface aeration servicesof claim 25, wherein said control circuit controls a connection of atleast one of said storage battery and said battery charger to providepower to said motor.
 31. The method of providing subsurface aerationservices of claim 25, wherein said storage battery is a deep dischargebattery.
 32. The method of providing subsurface aeration services ofclaim 25, wherein said motor is a DC motor.
 33. The method of providingsubsurface aeration services of claim 32, wherein said control circuitconnects both said storage battery and said battery charger to providepower to said DC motor.
 34. The method of providing subsurface aerationservices of claim 25, wherein said subsurface aeration system furthercomprises an inverter configured to be connected to said storagebattery, and said motor is an AC motor configured to be connected tosaid inverter.
 35. The method of providing subsurface aeration servicesof claim 34, further comprising the step wherein said control circuitconnects said storage battery to said inverter.
 36. The method ofproviding subsurface aeration services of claim 35, wherein the step ofsaid control circuit connecting said storage battery to said invertercomprises connecting said inverter to provide power to said AC motor.37. The battery powered source for an air handling system of claim 35,wherein said power source is a selected one of an AC power source, asolar cell array, a generator driven by an engine, a wind turbine, and afuel cell.
 38. The battery powered source for an air handling system ofclaim 37, wherein said engine is an engine that uses a selected one ofgasoline, diesel fuel, compressed gas, and natural gas as fuel.
 39. Themethod of providing subsurface aeration services of claim 35, furthercomprising the step wherein said control circuit connects both saidinverter and said power source to provide power to said AC motor.